My 6-Month Journey Starting Yorktown Tools: The Real Story
My name is Zachary Barber, and this is the honest, unfiltered story of how Yorktown Tools went from an idea in my head to a real, operating business in just six months.
Before I joined the Army in 2007, I worked more jobs than most people do in a couple of years — Taco Bell, the Baltimore Sun, a farmers co-op, Pizza Hut, AutoZone, R&L Carriers, Ingersoll Rand, and Tools & Accessories Corp. Those early jobs taught me how to hustle and solve problems on the fly.
After 20 years as a 15B turbine engine mechanic in Army aviation — with two combat deployments to Afghanistan and rising to Company First Sergeant and Battalion Operations NCOIC — I started seriously thinking about life after the uniform. I knew I wanted to build something that was truly mine. Growing up in Maryland, three ideas kept coming back to me: a lawn care/landscaping business, a snowball stand, or a tool company.
I went after lawn care first. I paid for a professional logo, ordered shirts and uniforms, and came up with what I thought was a clever name — “Lawn Barber.” It turned out the name was already overused, the good domain was taken, and there was another one in a neighboring town. The seasonality and the physical toll eventually made the decision for me. I’m not getting any younger, and grinding outside in the elements year-round no longer felt sustainable. A snowball stand had the same issue. So I committed fully to starting a tool company — something I’ve genuinely loved my entire life.
Bringing Yorktown Tools to Life
I wanted the name and identity to reflect my pride in my community, service and my country. Yorktown Tools honors the historic battlefield where America won its independence. Our mascot is George Washington holding a saw, the logo blends “Y&T” with the American flag, and our slogan is “Tools Worth Fighting For!” Everything was cleanly available — domain, emails, and social handles — so customers wouldn’t have to fight through confusion just to find us. Huge Win!
Building the Foundation the Right Way
Because I started this toward the end of my Army career and had retirement income coming in, I had something most new entrepreneurs don’t: time and a financial safety net. I refused to rush and wing it. I handled all the legal and backend work first — forming the LLC, getting my EIN, tax IDs, business license, and reseller certificate. I built a professional website, set up Google My Business, started building backlinks, and focused heavily on B2B strategies from day one.
I also installed strong systems early — CRM, accounting software, and payment processing — because the Army taught me it’s much easier to go from hard to easy than the other way around.
The Early Struggles and Lessons
My first sales were humbling, I lost a little bit of money. Shipping costs and credit card processing fees (different rates for ACH, Visa/Mastercard, and Amex) caught me off guard. I sold those early orders purposely at cost, because I was more focused on testing and refining my processes than turning a profit. Those early mistakes were not expensive but incredibly valuable.
I quickly realized that selling to individuals, friends, family, and very small businesses is extremely difficult to make real money on. They have more time than money, so they shop every item aggressively and expect the lowest price possible. You end up competing directly with big box stores — a tough fight when you’re just getting started.
The Smarter Path Forward
That realization led me to focus on commercial contractors and government agencies from the beginning. These larger customers care more about reliability, on-time job-site delivery, and strong relationships than bargaining over every single tool. If you can solve their real problems and help keep their crews productive, you become far more valuable than the cheapest option on the market.
This is how companies industrial companies stay successful — they provide real solutions, not just the lowest price. That’s the model I’m following. My business is built around commercial contractors and government agencies because their focus is on big-picture outcomes: finishing major projects on time and building critical infrastructure for the community.
As I grow and gain more capital, I can expand into retail later. But trying to start with heavy inventory and a showroom right away usually requires far more money than most new businesses have.
Mission, Vision, and the Team I Want
Our mission is straightforward: Supply premium tools and equipment to commercial contractors and government agencies across Hampton Roads with free quotes, free job-site delivery, and zero hassle. You build the project — we deliver the tools.
Our vision is to grow into a strong regional and eventually national company with multiple locations, while keeping our systems repeatable and our culture strong. We will only expand once our processes are proven.
When it comes to building my team, I’m very intentional. I look for people who make strong first impressions, take full ownership of their work, stay positive, and remain teachable and adaptable. I want teammates who are excited to grow with us and take real pride in what we’re building.
Where I Stand After Six Months
Starting a tool company has a much higher barrier to entry than most businesses, and it’s definitely not a “get rich quick” situation. You have to bootstrap, learn as you go, and be willing to lose some money early while you figure things out.
But I believe it’s worth every challenge. This business isn’t seasonal. It’s more mental than physical. And once established, the revenue potential is significantly higher and more consistent. I’m playing the long game — building strong systems, real relationships, and a company I can be proud of.
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, especially in tools or any other field, here’s my honest advice: Do the hard backend work first. Focus on real customers and relationships. Keep your head down, push through the unknown, and don’t quit when it gets tough. That fiction you feel is a great sign that you are growing. The bigger and better life — for you, your family, and your future team — is waiting on the other side of those hard early days.
Tools Worth Fighting For.
If there is anything I can do to help you or your company, please reach out.
Yorktown Tools |
757-940-5171 |